2009 NBA draft early entries puzzling as usual

Tyreke Evans is ready for the NBA, but many underclassman are not. (AP Photo)

It’s that time of year again – time for College Basketball underclassman of all shapes and sizes to declare for the NBA Draft.

This year’s field is expected to include Blake Griffin, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Craig Brackins, and Earl Clark.

But for right now, the official list of early entries is led by Memphis G Tyreke Evans, who hasn’t hired an agent yet but will soon.

UCLA G Jrue Holiday and Florida G Nick Calathes have declared but will not hire agents. The same can be said for Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Christopher, and Brandon Costner.

And then there is some guy named Mac Koshwal, a 6’10” sophomore who plays for DePaul.

DePaul basketball has fallen from grace in recent years, and is apparently in the process of trying to oust coach Jerry Wainwright without buying out his contract, simply by firing all of his assistant coaches.

The only DePaul player I can name is G Dar Tucker, who will play in the NBA someday and could declare for the draft this year.

But Mac Koshwal? You can’t be serious.

So I did some research. The big man averaged 12.2 ppg and 9.6 rpg for the Blue Demons this season. He also averaged just 0.4 blocks per game as DePaul’s primary inside defender.

He has been a team captain during his first two seasons in Lincoln Park, which suggests he has terrific leadership qualities.

But DraftExpress.com has Koshwal projected to be taken with the 12th pick in the second round – of the 2010 NBA draft.

Stay in school, young man.

Unlike Koshwal, B.J. Mullens and DaJuan Summers have hired agents and won’t have the option of returning to college next fall.

Mullens was rated in the top-five in most 2009 mock drafts prior to the season. He then averaged 8.8 ppg and 4.7 rpg in a league boasting almost no true big men while coming off the bench – and is now projected as the 18th pick in the first round by DraftExpress.

The 7′ 1″ Mullens was invisible at times and spent the middle of the season in coach Thad Matta’s doghouse. A return Columbus could have improved his stock dramatically, but he no longer has that option.

Summers is a fairly gifted player who may have been somewhat restricted by Georgetown’s offense, but he isn’t an NBA player at this point.